"Yes," continued Pocock: "all I possess in the world I owe to the Prince of Montoni. I am now at my ease—I live in my own house, bought with my own hard-earned money:—I can even afford to take a little pleasure, or an occasional ramble, as I was doing just now when accident brought me here. And, what is more, I always have a five-pound note to assist a friend. You cannot wonder, then, if I worship the very name of that man who from a comparatively humble rank has raised himself to such a proud height by his valour and his virtues."
"But what has all this to do with your anxiety to see the baronet and me?" inquired Chichester, in a tone displaying little of its wonted assurance.
"A great deal," answered Pocock. "I only want an opportunity to show the Prince how grateful I am to him; and for that reason have I looked out for you. Great, powerful, and rich as he now is, the memory of the past cannot oppress him; but still it would be satisfactory to his noble mind to receive from both of you the same confession of his innocence that he has had from me."
"What?" cried the baronet and Chichester together, as they exchanged troubled glances.
"Yes—you know what I mean," said Pocock; "and you dare not refuse me. Although it is my duty, perhaps, to step up stairs and quietly explain to the people there what kind of acquaintances they have got in you, yet the honour of the Prince is uppermost with me; and I will not expose you, if you at once write out and sign a paper saying that he was innocent and you was the guilty cause of his misfortunes."
"Impossible!" cried Harborough.
"He would transport us!" ejaculated Chichester, turning deadly pale.
"And no great harm if he did," said the engraver, drily. "But consideration for me will prevent his punishing you. So if you value the friendship of your chums up stairs——"
"It would never do to be shown up before them!" whispered the baronet with desperate emphasis to Chichester, whom he drew partially aside for a moment.
"You will pledge yourself not to show to any one, save the Prince, the paper you require of us?" asked Chichester of the engraver.